Wasps!

[vfem]

Never viewed them as problems before, other then the occasional mud wasp trying to build a new on my porch. My husband is allergic so we're very aware when they're around. The last few years I've found several parasite wasps working hard in the garden doing me great favors.

This year however is a different story. I've had thousands of wasps in the garden creating more problems then good. They've destroyed my raspberries by sucking every bit of juice out until they are dry flavorless raisins. I'll find dozens on the humming bird feeder each morning scaring off the humming birds. The absolute worst being they are destroying my ripe tomatoes, the slicers and the cherry! I can't believe how in mass they are!

The only thing I can think this is, is because of our drought and how dry its been that they are searching desperately for moisture and food. Or am I wrong, and they are going to be a continuing problem from here on out!?

 

[thistlebloom]

We have paper wasps around the house and a few years ago they were hugely prolific and a major nuisance. The past few years they have not been overwhelming so they must go in cycles, maybe also depending on the weather patterns.
Hopefully you won't have a continuing problem with them.

My berries were also ruined by them one year, so I set out low bowls full of dilute molasses water and dish soap to trap them. It worked pretty well, but of course a lot of berries were still unusable.
It wouldn't be so bad if they wouldn't take a bite out of every one, I mean don't their moms teach them to only take what they can eat anymore?

 

[vfem]

It wouldn't be so bad if they wouldn't take a bite out of every one, I mean don't their moms teach them to only take what they can eat anymore?

 

[gettinaclue]

Yellow jackets did the very same thing to my blackberries...the little stinkers. I've found one nest, but haven't found how best to kill them yet. I'm dreading the fall. They get more aggressive in the cooler weather and their nest is under my potato baskets.

 

[momofdrew]

I do think the weather has a lot to do with the numbers of insects in a given year...I like the idea of molasses in a dish with dish soap... be sure to keep it away from the house and gardens where people will be...